Report: Catholic 7 ready to announce new league

Multiple outlets — among them ESPN.com and CBS Sports — are reporting that the Big East Conference’s seven Catholic schools will announce their new league Thursday and begin play this fall.

Missouri Valley Conference member Creighton is “likely” part of the deal, according to the reports, “and could be added for next season as well.”

The new league will retain the Big East name and play its men’s basketball tournament in Madison Square Garden, just as the current league does. A major TV deal with Fox will also be announced.

The Big East holdovers will form a new conference under a different name having sold the name to the Catholic 7 — DePaul,Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, Seton Hall, St. John’s and Villanova. Xavier and Butler will also be part of the new Big East.